Review for Mission: Impossible '88 Box Set (5 Discs)

Though I'm not a fan of TV series 're-imaginings' (like the recent 'Hawaii Five-O' or the re-make of 'Kojak') and certainly not generally a fan of movie re-imaginings (like, well, 'Mission Impossible' for example) bringing back lead members of the cast a crew perhaps a decade or so on can actually be pretty good fun, often almost as much fun as the original. So called 'revivals' certainly worked for 'Gilligan's Island', 'The Munsters' and 'The Avengers' and, by golly, it certainly worked for 'Mission Impossible'.


This series starts off falteringly but soon settles into business as usual, once you get over the fact that Peter Graves has aged a little and that the whole tamale has been transported from the 1960's to the 1980's. So we're treated to the white heat of new computer technology (which may look dated now in the age of the tablet and 3G but which looked amazingly space-age at the time) and a whole new look and feel, even if the general conceit is just the same.


Even Jim Phelps (Peter Graves) notes as if on our behalf: 'Time does march on'. It sure does Peter - to the point that even this re-play has the warm glow of nostalgia to it in its own right. Peter himself has marched on to the big mission in the sky now himself (in 2010) so didn't live to see this particular series get a re-release.


The story goes that actually studio executives had no intention of using Graves for this revival. But in the end, all saw common sense and he and Bob Johnson ('That voice' on the mission tapes) were retained for this series and the one that followed in 1990. There were also a few old characters brought in to please old fans; Lisa Casey (Lynda Day George) makes a welcome and all too brief return towards the end of the series and Barney Collier (Greg Morris) also turns up. His real-life son, Phil Morris (a remarkable resemblance) takes over his Dad's duties in the show too.


A fortuitous happening perhaps but the first series was created during the 1988 Writer's strike in the US which meant that several episodes were actually just updated versions of previous episodes. Which, for the most part, means they are good stories indeed. Amongst the very best is the opening episode which sees a contract killer get his come-uppance in a sting which makes 'Hustle' look positively pedestrian. Great stuff!


Though the series was shot in Australia (to save some money) it stills feels truly international with episodes set all over the globe. The opening episode, which sees the new team assembled, takes place in London and looks every bit the part.


So the series shows a retired Phelp's at his protégé's funeral. Killed by an assassin Phelps doesn't take much persuading to accept another impossible mission. He is presented with a recommended team of experts and he accepts them all - putting them through their paces in the first mission.


There's master of disguise Nicolas Black (Thaao Penghils), strongman Max Harte (Anthony Hamilton), Grant Collier (taking over his Dad's role in the series and in reality!) and the lovely Charlie's Angels-like lady of the group, model Casey Randall (Terry Markwell).


The episodes are pretty formulaic overall but really great entertainment and it won't be long till you'll be shaking the box and demanding to know where the '89-'90 season is. Well, don't worry it's on its way!


The picture quality is OK - strangely less satisfying than the more luridly coloured sixties shows - though the look reflects the more realistic palettes fashionable at the time. Resolution isn't great and you'll definitely notice some artefacting on your 42" plasma - but with the right attitude (be bloody grateful its out at all you ingrate!!) this won't spoil your enjoyment of the series.
A far superior re-visit to the original series than the movies, fans should definitely make an effort to pick this up.
Here's what you get (no extras - just the series!) :

The Killer: Episode 1 10/23/88 When an IMF team leader is assassinated, Jim Phelps comes out of retirement and assembles a new team to bring the killer to justice.
The System: Episode 2 10/30/88 The team must force a mobster to turn evidence against his partner and mentor.
Holograms: Episode 3 11/6/88 The IMF must lure a canny drug lord on to U.S. territory so he can be arrested for his crimes.
The Condemned: Episode 4 11/20/88 The team must free a falsely-condemned prisoner - former IMF techno-genius Barney Collier.
The Legacy: Episode 5 11/26/88 When the grandsons of four Nazis come together to recover a fortune in gold and create the Fourth Reich, the team must infiltrate the group and locate the gold.
The Wall: Episode 6 12/11/88 A East German doctor makes money by tricking political refugees into paying to use his escape route, and kidnaps a diplomat's daughter to prevent the reunification which would make his services obsolete. The IMF must rescue the girl, who is trapped on a life support machine with time running out.
The Cattle King: Episode 7 12/18/88 The IMF teams up with Australian aborigines to bring down a superstitious cattle king and arms dealer.
The Pawn: Episode 8 1/15/89 When a Russian scientist and chess player decides to defect, Nicholas must take his place under the watchful eyes of the KGB while the rest of the team gets the scientist and his daughter out of the country.

The Haunting: Episode 9 1/28/89 When a rich young sociopath kills a Middle Eastern princess and her father threatens war, the IMF must bring him to justice.
The Lions: Episode 10 2/4/89 A king's son returns to his Asian country to take the test that will confirm him as the king, but his uncle, a rabid anti-American, has rigged it so that he can fail, so the IMF must rig it back.
The Greek: Episode 11 2/11/89 Jim and Grant must get close to a Greek billionaire who runs a black market drug ring, and turn his partners against him.
The Fortune: Episode 12 2/18/89 A team member is killed on solo assignment against the wife of a mentally-weak exiled dictator, and the others resolve to bring them both to justice.
The Fixer: Episode 13 2/25/89 A Washington journalist uses his connections to gain information to blackmail politicians, posing a threat to the U.S.
The Spy: Episode 14 3/18/89 An ex-MI6 agent sells lethal chemical weapons and the IMF must team up with a Russian spy whose people also want to eliminate the threat.
The Devils: Episode 15 3/25/89 A rash of insanity among diplomats requires Jim to go undercover as...the Devil, to get the goods on a British lord in charge of a Satanic cult.
The Plague: Episode 16 4/8/89 An industrial spy prepares to sell a vial of bacteria, unaware of how virulent it is if accidentally released
Reprisal: Episode 17 4/15/89 A deranged ex-IMFer targets retired IMF agents, killing them and framing Jim Phelps for the crimes. The IMF gives Jim only a little time to prove his innocence before they must turn him over to the authorities.
Submarine: Episode 18 4/29/89 A retired admiral prepares to sell a computer virus that can sink any naval vessel, but the plan goes awry when he destroys the computer "cure" before the IMF can get it. Now they must force the admiral to reveal the "cure."
Bayou: Episode 19 5/6/89 The IMF must use voodoo rituals to break up a white slavery ring run by a sadistic Louisiana bar owner and millionaire.